The Duel

Critics: Thomas de Monchaux & Owen Nichols

Intro to architecture fosters the students to use the most essential drawing tool, hands, and to question basic concepts in architecture. Our site or scenario was Alexander Hamilton’s House in Upper Manhattan. This studio aimed built a connection between the architecture of Hamilton’s house, the clothing and culture of the time. We were assigned the task to design an 18th century garment which we wore while visiting Hamilton’s house. I designed a pocket hoop that modified my perception of the space due to its uncomfortable and exaggerated size. Through a diagram I narrate the altered perception in every step and angle of rotation. Later, we were asked to modify the garment into a architectural prosthetic device based in a civility rule from a list of proper behaviors written by George Washington. The new device forced my body to follow the rule. Finally, we took Hamilton and Burr famous duel as an inspiration to generate architecture from the 18th century garment and the prosthetic device. 

Columbia University, GSAPP